Roses are symbols of beauty and wealth.

They belong to the Rosa genus of the Rosaceae family, which has upwards of 100 species.

Rose hips get their red-orange color from carotenoid pigments known as lycopene and beta carotene. These pigments have been shown to promote skin and eye health.

They’re also rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, such as vitamin C, catechins, quercetin, and ellagic acid. A diet rich in these compounds can help lower inflammation and oxidative stress in your body.

However, the nutrient content of rose hips largely depends on soil and growing conditions, processing techniques, and the specific species. For example, many rosehip varieties are processed with heat and water, which significantly lowers their vitamin C levels.

Rose hips have been used for centuries in traditional and folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

Rose hips may improve osteoarthritis symptoms by combating oxidative stress and inflammation in your joints.

Rosehip seeds are high in polyunsaturated fats, which support a healthy skin membrane and protect your skin from inflammatory compounds, such as ultraviolet (UV) rays, cigarette smoke, and pollution.

The vitamin C content of fresh rose hips is higher than that found in citrus fruits. Rosehip is also high in folate and contains vitamins A, B3, D and E along with flavonoids, carotenoids, betasitosterol, fructose, malic acid, tannins, magnesium, zinc, copper and numerous other phytochemicals. 

Interesting facts….

In WW2 people turned to rosehips to fill the nutrient gap. People were encouraged to collect for their own use and to help troops fight conditions such as scurvy. In 1941, the government launched a national week for the collection of rosehips. School children, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, and Women’s Institutes picked up their bags, baskets, and buckets and set out to forage. These were collected and each forager paid a thrupence per pound for their efforts. By 1943, 500 tonnes were collected annually- enough to create 2.5 million bottles of syrup and save the import of 25 million oranges per year.

Rose hips are one of nature’s richest sources of vitamin C. Rosehips have been used for centuries to combat infections such as coughs, colds, flu and respiratory conditions. It is now known that vitamin C is crucial to fight off infections, both bacterial and viral. White blood cells contain 20 times the amount of vitamin C than other cells and require constant replenishment to keep the immune system working to its optimum capacity. Rosehips also contain many important antioxidants – plant chemicals that are naturally anti-inflammatory, shield immune cells from environmental damage and encourage the production of white blood cells.

Rosehips are rich in pectin, a naturally occurring sugar that acts as a prebiotic – an indigestible fibre that is used in the gut to increase populations of healthy bacteria, aid digestion and enhance the absorption of valuable vitamins.

Pectin also has a laxative effect on the intestines and is helpful in cases of mild constipation. It appears that intestinal functions are modulated by Rosehips and as such, they can aid in cases of diarrhea, stomach pain and gastric inflammation.

Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rose-hips#nutrition